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Aug. 9, 2011 Boston advertising player Scott Heigelmann has acquired the feature film rights to the true life story of legendary Boston crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger. Bulger, the former captain of Boston's headline-grabbing Winter Hill Gang, was arrested in June after one of the largest federal manhunts in US history. The famed criminal has been the subject of several books and was the inspiration for "The Departed," the 2006 Martin Scorsese blockbuster starring Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jack Nicholson. The tale of the Irish-American gangster, complete with its gritty South Boston backdrop and folklore-laden history, holds obvious appeal in the Hollywood market. "You don't have to be a studio exec to see the potential of such a project. It's script-ready. It's the kind of story that can convert to big dollars at the box office, locally and worldwide," says Andrew Cohen of IndieDaily. Hollywood sources report that the financial details of the back room transaction will remain private, but industry media outlets can expect an official news release in October. Heigelmann, CEO of Boston-based ad agency Heavy, is slated to produce the film (his first) with the help of "Townies" producer/director Mike O'Dea.
Heigelmann was not available for comment at press time.
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